Name: Abbie Zinobile
School: Juniata Valley
Age: 18
Grade: Senior
Sport: Basketball
Athlete of the week achievement: Zinobile scored 16 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the Lady Hornets' 53-40, first-round win over Bishop Carroll in the District 6 Class A playoffs. She also scored 14 of her team's 31 points, including hitting five of her last six free-throw attempts, and had nine rebounds in a 31-28 upset of Claysburg-Kimmel to guarantee Juniata Valley a spot in the state playoffs.
Season update: Zinobile averages 13.4 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. She is 11 points away from her 1,000th career point.
Coach Rachelle Hopsicker's quote: "She stepped up like a leader. She did the things we asked of her. The free-throws down the stretch made the difference in the Claysburg-Kimmel game."
Favorite teacher: Mr. Thomas
Favorite subject: Science
Favorite movie: "The Guardian"
Favorite food: Buffalo chicken dip
Favorite song: Anything country
Outside interests: Volleyball, softball, spending time with family
Favorite professional team: Miami Heat
Favorite college team: Penn St.
Pro athlete most admired: Heath Miller
Best athlete I ever played with: Katy Leamer
Best athlete I ever competed against: Sam Damiano
Most influential person on my athletic career: My former coach Jama Greene, who passed away in 2010
Proudest athletic achievement: Defeating Claysburg-Kimmel in D6-A quarterfinals
How I got my start in basketball: My parents took me to watch my cousin, Jess, at St. Farncis when I was little and I always wanted to be like her
Future goal: To get a degree in elementary and special education
